Liquid pitcher including divided fluid filter for inlet and outlet filtering

Abstract

A liquid (water) pitcher that includes a pitcher having a liquid receiving aperture configured to allow a liquid (water) to be delivered into an interior liquid storage volume defined by at least one upwardly extending wall extending upward from a base and a liquid (water) filter positioned within the pitcher that includes a filter housing and at least one gravity-driven fluid treatment medium within the filter housing where the filter housing has a plurality of fluid intake apertures and at least one treated fluid outlet configured to deliver treated fluid into an internal volume of a vessel wherein the at least one fluid filtering medium treats the liquid at a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the liquid (water).

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid pitcher comprising:
 a pitcher comprising a top and a liquid storage portion;   a first filter medium and a second filter medium;   a cover disposed on top of the filter;   a liquid receiving aperture in the cover, configured to allow an amount of water from a household water supply into the liquid storage portion;   a spout for directing the amount of water out of the liquid storage portion;   wherein the first filter medium is disposed below the liquid receiving aperture and is configured to treat the amount of water from the household water supply that is allowed into the liquid storage portion;   wherein the second filter medium is disposed adjacent the spout, and is configured to treat the amount of water that is allowed out of the liquid storage portion.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium are gravity-driven. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter removably coupled to the pitcher. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 3 , wherein the filter is indirectly removably coupled to the pitcher. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 4 , wherein the filter is removably coupled to the adapter. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium treat the amount of water from the household water supply at a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the amount of water from the household water supply. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 6 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium provide different treatment to fluid passing through them. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter medium is a compressed medium produced from activated carbon, a blown polyethylene or an open weave fibrous material and having a pill inside the interior of the compressed medium wherein the pill includes a sensor, signal generator, and battery pack and provides at least one of operational data, filter status, filter type information and filter life information to a user display. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid pitcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter housing, wherein first filter medium and the second filter medium are disposed within the filter housing. 
     
     
         10 . A reusable pitcher for filtering household water comprising:
 a pitcher comprising a top portion having a spout and a base;   an adapter removably coupled to the top portion of the pitcher;   a filter assembly removably coupled to the adapter, the filter assembly comprising:
 a filter housing; 
 a first filter medium removably coupled with the filter housing; and 
 a second filter medium removably coupled with the filter housing; and 
   a cover disposed over the filter assembly and comprising an inlet;   wherein the inlet is configured to allow an amount of water from a household water supply into the base;   wherein the spout is configured for directing the amount of water out of the base;   wherein the first filter medium is disposed below the inlet and is configured to treat the amount of water from the household water supply that is allowed into the base; and   wherein the second filter medium is disposed adjacent the spout, and is configured to treat the amount of water that is allowed out of the base.   
     
     
         11 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein the spout is configured to direct the amount of water from the base into another user-accessible vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium are gravity-driven. 
     
     
         13 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein the cover is removably coupled to the adapter. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 13 , wherein the cover further comprises a removable cap providing selective access to the inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein the filter housing further comprises a wire cage configured to hold a flavor additive. 
     
     
         16 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium treat the amount of water from the household water supply at a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the amount of water from the household water supply. 
     
     
         17 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 10 , wherein first and second filter media provide different treatment to liquid passing through them. 
     
     
         18 . The reusable pitcher for filtering household water of  claim 17 , wherein the first filter medium is configured to remove impurities that are harmful for liquid storage, and the second filter medium is configured to remove impurities that are harmful to liquid flavor. 
     
     
         19 . A pitcher system for filtering household water comprising:
 a pitcher comprising a base with a top portion, the pitcher configured to contain filtered water for later use by a user when in a vertical position, and configured to controllably release filtered water when the pitcher is rotated from the vertical position;   a spout;   an adapter removably coupled to the top portion of the pitcher;   a filter assembly comprising:
 a filter housing removably coupled to the adapter; 
 a first filter medium disposed in the filter housing; and 
 a second filter medium disposed in the filter housing; and 
   a cover disposed over the filter assembly and comprising a liquid receiving aperture and a movable cap providing selective access to an inlet;   wherein the liquid receiving aperture is configured to allow an amount of water from a household water supply into the base;   wherein the first filter medium is disposed below the liquid receiving aperture and is configured to treat the amount of water from the household water supply that is allowed into the base; and   wherein the second filter medium is disposed adjacent the spout when the pitcher is in the vertical position, and is configured to treat the amount of water that is released out of the base when the pitcher is rotated from the vertical position.   
     
     
         20 . The pitcher system for filtering household water of  claim 19 , wherein the first filter medium and the second filter medium treat the amount of water from the household water supply at a rate of at least about one liter per minute while removing at least chlorine odor and chlorine taste components from the amount of water from the household water supply.